To rebuild or not to rebuild?

[tbonedog]

I have a 1983 gs750e. I tore it down a few years ago with the idea of rebuilding it. Then life happened. Now I finally have the time and space to operate. This is my first rebuild and I am learning as I go. Just got the frame back from powder coating and it looks great.

So my question is, should I rebuild the engine I have or should I look into getting a rebuilt? A few of the fins have broken corners, all of the aluminum needs polishing, the engine as a whole needs paint and I noticed a slight amount of surface rust on the cams. However, other than a small carb issue, it ran great when I took it apart. Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Any suggestions as to a good place to look for a replacement would be great too.

Thanks

Dave

[Bribird]

Hey Dave, welcome to the forum. I would try to rebuild what you got before thinking about another motor. The cams, well they can be changed out. The mototr looking the way it does....most used are not gonna look any better.

Good luck with your decision...


Basscliff should be along shortly with your formal greeting

[tbonedog]

Would a newer model 750 engine fit my frame? Would a newer rebuild be a better option?

[drhach]

Welcome to the forum. Let me say that I have been in your shoes. I have a 1978 GS1000. I won it on ebay for a couple of hundred dollars. In hindsight, I paid too much for it. It needed new everything. I stripped the bike and took the frame to a powdercoater. I wanted him to do something like flat black or just regular black. I was really just intending to build a rat bike and do the bare minimum to get it running again. Well, one thing led to another. I got the frame to the powdercoater and i saw all of the available colors. I kind of lost my head and had him do a custom color. Needless to say, when I got the frame home, I couldn't just put the bike back together. The frame looked too nice to be a rat bike. I cleaned and redid everything. I left no stone unturned and I tried to do everything as right as I could.

Honestly, I could have just bought another bike for about what I have in to this one (maybe a little less, but close). I don't regret doing it. I like doing that kind of stuff if I have the time and the money. However, If you really just want to get the bike running, you may want to just get another engine in it and be done with it. It's a personal decision. I had other bikes to ride too, so there wasn't the nagging desire to ride it. I guess it comes down to what you want from this.

[ricksgs750es]

Awfully coincidental....

I too own a 1983 GS750ES and wanted to sell it a few months ago... But with the economy the way it is, I know I would get next to nothing for it. So, I recently decided to do a restore on it. Like I planned originally. I just love the bike! It's a blast to ride. Yeah, it doesn't make much sense financially... But we all know this kind of stuff isn't about 'financial sense'.

I was having engine problems (mine has almost 60k miles) and the mechanic said that really, I need new pistons and boring out the engine would be a good idea. I agree. Getting a new engine for the bike would be really hard and not worth the money.

Haven't decided whether I am going to have the engine polished or painted. It's currently black with chrome'sh head covers. I'm diggin' the all-black look and maybe have chrome screws. The bike is mostly white with the big fairing...

Stay tuned!

[Fenixgoon]

Hey Dave, welcome to the forum. I would try to rebuild what you got before thinking about another motor. The cams, well they can be changed out. The mototr looking the way it does....most used are not gonna look any better.

Good luck with your decision...


Basscliff should be along shortly with your formal greeting

how big of an issue is rust on cam lobes? i have a tiny bit on mine

[rphillips]

Your 750 has a plain bearing crankshaft, personally I'd never spend to rebuild it. I understand a 711 conversion is pretty simple. You can find & install a GS 1100 eng, & have a much stronger, & in my opinion, a much better engine. Just my opinion.

[Suzuki mad]

As a rebuild project I would sort the rolling chassis out first then the engine but thats my way of doing a project.

It depends where you are going with the rebuild that decided what you need to do. If its a rebuild project and your going to run it then leave the damage alone. If its a concourse show bike then find all the parts that are either NOS (New Old Stock) or undamaged and have then refinished.

[Rover]

Drhach...hello

I am a GS1000 fan.(my bike is a GS1000)
Where may we see a picture of yours?
Rover

[anthonygs1000]

No question

The 1983 gs750e is a smoken hot bike my dad had one and he
Regrets ever selling it. In my opinion I would also try to find a used GS1100 motor it is the only logical way to fly . ( p.s. leave the gs 750 stickers on it)
I Restored a GS 1000 but I put my own spin on it I did the bike when I was 16 years old
And I never regret it. I could have bought one done , but I know what was done to it and I trust
My work better than some one else’s BS I love my bikes food for though

[DimitriT]

If you are trying to decide between rebuilding the engine or getting a new engine I would at lest tear down the old engine to see what you have to work with. Check the cylinders, valves and guides, seats, pistons, etc. The bottom end is probably ok (as they were generally overbuilt on these bikes) but if the engine is off the bike you may want to check that too. I don't think big-end plain bearings are particularly weak (compared to rollers) but these too can be checked. Once you've figured out what you have to work with you can decide if you want to continue or go for a fresher motor (lots of options on these).

[Nessism]

I'm not aware of anyone selling rebuilt GS engines over the counter. Most people either rebuild their current engine, pay someone to rebuild it, or purchase a used engine.

The third generation GS engines were pretty tough and fairly plentiful so finding parts shouldn't be too hard. The GS700 engine is identical in most ways so you can use many of the parts should you come across one.

Ebay is a good source of used parts and flatoutmotorcycles.com is the cheapest for on-line parts. You can also post in the wanted section here, lots of folks have stuff in their garage that they will offer up for the right offer.

Good luck,